Masterfile Class Action Apparently Settled in Masterfile's Favor

[Oscar Michelen]

Just wanted to alert everyone to the status of the class action lawsuit filed against Masterfile in Nevada. It appears that the Plaintiff settled by paying Masterfile's claims for an unstated amount! Plaintiffs in turn dropped their class action.  I am trying to get more details about what occurred.

You may recall that the lawsuit claimed that Masterfile was seeking damages for infringement of images it had allegedly licensed to a web template designer.  The claim was that while Masterfile may have later retracted or refused to renew the license to the designer, the company was still seeking damages for lawful use that occurred during the license period.  

I would be curious to know how much the plaintiff paid and why the sudden turnaround.

[vronick]

Oscar, just by way of clarification. What happened in the Nevada case, which never obtained class status, was quite different from what you have stated here. The Plaintiff made no payments to Masterfile and was released from all responsibility concerning the matter. The web designer that Plaintiff had originally contracted, and was one of the Defendants, settled on paying Masterfile for the images, which Masterfile was claiming were being used without a license. This is quite a bit different from what it seems you heard concerning the case because, as I previously stated, Plaintiff was released and therefore, in my opinion, won.

[Oscar Michelen]

Dear Vronick: Thanks so much for the clarification, as I stated in my post I was unsure of all of the facts. I guess if you ask Masterfile, they won because they got paid and didn't have to pay. The plaintiff was fortunate that the web designer was a responsible party, ready willing and able to make a financial settlement with Masterfile.  That is usually not the case.  Thanks again I really appreciate the information!